//------------------------------// // Empire // Story: Ponyville Tales // by Silverquill //------------------------------// “You’ve got the checklist I made for you?” “Yes, Twilight…” “And the checklist for the checklist?” “YES. The more time you spend making sure I’m ready, the more time it takes for your chores to get done.” Spike huffed, tapping his foot in front of the library’s entrance as Twilight searched through a pile of scrolls nearby. She looked up, having found what she wanted. “You’re right, you’re right, sorry. This is the last list.” She trotted over and handed him another tan-colored scroll, to add to the three he was already carrying. “Thanks again for agreeing to go out and do some errands, Spike.” Settling the scroll under his arm with the rest, Spike turned to go. “It’s not like I haven’t done any chores for you before while you stayed home and studied. It’s no problem. I’ll be back before you know it,” he said with a nod. Twilight grinned, “I know you will, Number One Assistant. Be careful out there Spike, take your time.” With a wave, Spike set out. Twilight gently closed the door behind the young dragon. Looking out the window to make sure he was gone, she turned and rubbed her hooves together, a grin spreading across her face. “Almost there…almost…there.” Spike collapsed at his destination, the front door of the library. It had been a long day…he’d had to wander around town, ordering supplies from all kinds of businesses, not to mention stumbling upon Rarity about halfway through and helping her with some tasks for awhile. He hated to admit it, but he was still just a young dragon. Nevertheless, he had managed to work hard enough to get his errands done early. He opened the door, anticipating a nice, long nap. He ducked under a projectile pillow instead. “What th-…” The words caught in his throat as he finally noticed the madness that was taking place in the lobby. On the side of the room opposite the stairs was a massive castle that reached the ceiling, made entirely of pillows. Pillows ran out of it, wielding little paper swords and shields. Charging from down the stairs was an army of books, also equipped with little paper weaponry and attacking the pillows, clearly wanting to lay siege to the castle. Spike rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the warfare was still going on. A few more animate objects were flung about as the makeshift weapons hit them, somehow being strong enough to toss the soldiers aside. Spike slowly edged towards the stairs as a gap in book reinforcements gave him the perfect opportunity to sneak upstairs and find Twilight…surely she had to have an idea what was causing this insanity. Making sure the way was clear, Spike started up the stairs. He let out a cry as he bumped into a solid wall of oak. Retreating back down the stairs, Spike hid under a table and watched as the wall moved downstairs. Eventually, the wall became the foot of a bed as Twilight’s guest bed lumbered down the stairs carefully. It was soon in full view, and so was its rider: Twilight, clad in an impromptu bed sheet cape and a paper crown. Her horn aglow, clearly casting magic, Twilight called out. “Time’s running short! Defeat the vile pillow folk before Spike comes home! For the book empire!” “…Twilight?!” Twilight turned, startled. Her horn lost its glow as the pillow and book soldiers lost their enchantment and fell inanimate again. Her bed mount stopped moving and settled down with a creak. She stepped down off the bed, a blush quickly reaching critical levels on her face. “S-spike! I didn’t think you’d be back so early,” Twilight said with a nervous cough. “Uh…I can explain?” Spike crossed his arms, his nap plans forgotten. “So, this is how you pass the time when I’m out doing errands?” Twilight hung her head low. “…Sometimes.” Spike eyed her up and down, tapping his foot as Twilight continued looking at the floor. After a moment, she looked up a little. “…you want to join in?” “I was waiting for you to ask.” Pillow soldiers were flung aside as the books had gained the clear advantage. They carved a path through the battlefield, getting closer and closer to Fort Fluffy. The books had just breached the castle when their leader started making her way down the stairs, her horn aglow and her bed mount ready to deliver her to the enemy’s crumpled defenses. Right behind her was her new general, Sir Spike, clad in his own cape and a cooking pot hat, heading downstairs atop his bathtub mount. Twilight looked back and smiled at him. “I believe it’s your turn to rally the troops, sergeant.” Spike gave a short laugh and turned to the battlefield, holding his paper sword high. The books hopped up and down as he let out a yell. “For the book empire!”